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Background: The protein AGR2 is a putative member of the protein disulfide isomerase family and was first identified as a homolog of the Xenopus laevis gene XAG-2. AGR2 has been implicated in a number of human cancers. In particular, AGR2 has previously been found to be one of several genes that encode secreted proteins showing increased expression in prostate cancer cells compared to normal prostatic epithelium., Methods: Gene expression levels of AGR2 were examined in prostate cancer cells by microarray analysis. We further examined the relationship of AGR2 protein expression to histopathology and prostate cancer outcome on a population basis using tissue microarray technology., Results: At the RNA and protein level, there was an increase in AGR2 expression in adenocarcinoma of the prostate compared to morphologically normal prostatic glandular epithelium. Using a tissue microarray, this enhanced AGR2 expression was seen as early as premalignant PIN lesions. Interestingly, within adenocarcinoma samples, there was a slight trend toward lower levels of AGR2 with increasing Gleason score. Consistent with this, relatively lower levels of AGR2 were highly predictive of disease recurrence in patients who had originally presented with high-stage primary prostate cancer (P = 0.009)., Conclusions: We have shown for the first time that despite an increase in AGR2 expression in prostate cancer compared to non-malignant cells, relatively lower levels of AGR2 are highly predictive of disease recurrence following radical prostatectomy.

Aim: The purpose of this study was to compare the marginal leakage of Class II amalgam restorations whose preparations were lined with a resin-based desensitizing agent, a self-etching adhesive system, and copal varnish., Methods and Materials: Fifty-six freshly extracted human premolar teeth were divided into four groups. A Class II preparation was prepared with only a proximal box on the mesial and distal surfaces of each tooth. The cavities in one group were lined with a desensitizing agent (VivaSens) and a second group with an adhesive (Clearfil S3 Bond). A third group was lined with copal varnish (Copalite) and a fourth group was used as the control without any cavity liner. Spherical high copper amalgam was hand-condensed into each preparation, specimens were thermocycled, stained, and sectioned. Microleakage was graded using a stereomicroscope. Microleakage scores were calculated and analyzed using the Kruskal Wallis and the Mann-Whitney tests (alpha=0.05)., Results: Less microleakage was indicated with the VivaSens liner when compared with the other groups (P<0.05). Clearfil S3 Bond showed less microleakage than the control group (P<0.05), but the leakage with copal varnish and Clearfil S3 Bond was similar (P>0.05)., Conclusion: VivaSens reduced the microleakage of Class II high copper amalgam restorations significantly more than the Clearfil S3 Bond and copal varnish.